Good Sunday morning everyone! It’s officially berry season and I am in utter dreamland with sweet, juicy and perfectly ripe berries of all sorts! The markets are overflowing with baskets and flats of berries, my mind wandered to countless potential recipes using the traditional berry blends, compotes, jams, crumbles… I came home wondering what I was going to create and decided to meander outside into my backyard to get inspired. I had been recently inspecting the trees in my backyard that was producing gorgeous plump blue/purple berries that peppered my sidewalk, after some research I realized I had struck gold and have four Saskatoon Berry Bushes! This is when my Spiced Chia Pudding with Honeyed Saskatoon Berries & Apricots recipe hit me in the face, I immediately began picking the lovely berries as quickly as I could… half in my bowl, half in my tummy!

Look at those Saskatoon Berries, aka, Prairie Berries! I hadn’t appreciated the beauty and unique flavor of Saskatoon berries until a couple of years ago, when I filled up my pail full of the berries at the Saskatoon Berry Farm U-Pick, I was in love. They have such a unique, sweet nutty flavor, a mix of apple and berry essence and you can pick even pick them slightly under as they continue to ripen after picked. Saskatoon berries are highly known for their antioxidant properties, high calcium value and what sets them apart from other berries are their anti inflammatory properties that have been tested in medicinal treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. Wow, I mean, how incredible are these little purple balls of packed goodness!

Picking them Saskatoon Berries!

I had to incorporate the berries unique flavors and health attributes into a recipe abundant with some of my favorite spice blends that compliments the berries almond nut influence. I couldn’t leave out one of my absolute adored in season stone fruits, apricots! I picked out a large bags worth of seasonal, organic and vibrant B.C. apricots at the farmers market this week. Apricots have that tart and musky flavor with a smooth bite, I could eat a trees worth in one sitting! I certainly get my fibre and carotene intake in a day I’d say. My mouth was watering when I thought of mixing apricots, Saskatoon berries, roasted salted almonds chunks and a pinch of cinnamon coated in local honey, Drizzle’s Summer Honey, a sweet creamed honey you will not get enough of with notes of oak, wildflower and clover and use it to top off a delicious spiced pudding, it doesn’t get any better than this!

Now let’s get to the spiced chia pudding, I know most of you have had some variety of chia pudding, it’s popularity has definitely risen and is a healthy alternative to sugar filled puddings. I love warming spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and ginger, I then infused them into this chia pudding with a base of almond and coconut milk, along with some dates for sweetness and I snuck in some ground flaxseed to thicken up the pudding. I’m sure you all know by now that flaxseeds have an incredible amount of plant-based omegas that keep your nails, locks and skin healthy and luscious (maybe that’s my secret to this head of hair :)) This chia pudding is a breeze to create, throw everything in a large mixing bowl and let it set for at least 4-8 hours, I like my pudding a little thicker, so I let it set overnight and sometimes even add an extra tbsp of chia or flaxseed, you can adapt my recipe to your pudding preference!

So how do you make this Spiced Chia Pudding with Honeyed Saskatoon Berries and Apricots?! Keep reading my friends, this recipe really comes together quite simply and you can make it in large batches that last a few days in the fridge!

Spiced Chia Pudding:

1 cup unsweetned vanilla almond milk

1 cup unsweetened vanilla coconut milk

4 tbsp chia seeds

1 tbsp ground flaxseed

3 large pitted dried dates – diced finely

2 tbsp maple syrup (if you like a sweeter pudding add, if not leave out)

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp pure vanilla

1/2 tsp fresh zested ginger (or 1/4 tsp dried ginger powder)

1/4 tsp cardamom

1/4 tsp pink himalayan salt

Pinch of nutmeg

Pinch of ground clove

Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl until well mixed, cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for

4-8 hours or until your desired consistency of pudding reached (the longer it sits, the thicker it will become).

Honeyed Saskatoon Berries & Apricot Topping:

2 ripe apricots – diced

1 cup ripe Saskatoon berries

2 tbsp roasted & salted almonds – roughly chopped

1 tbsp Drizzle Summer Honey

1 tsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Pinch salt (omit if almonds well salted)

Add all ingredients except honey in a bowl and mix, melt honey until just turning into liquid form and pour over mixture, toss in honey until evenly coated. Spoon spiced chia pudding into bowls when set and top off with the crunchy, sweet, spiced honey berry & apricot blend, YUM! A great recipe to make in batches and have as breakfast, dessert or a snack! This recipe will keep you full and energized during these beautiful summer days, hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend and summer so far, try this recipe out and tag me or leave a comment below, I love hearing from all of you, xoxo!

The last couple weeks have been an absolute whirlwind for me, half the time I don’t know the date or time, it has been moving/renovation week for us and life as a homeowner has been both gratifying and terrifying all at the same time. With a house in reno mode, full of unpacked boxes and an unorganized kitchen, madness has ensued and I have been utilizing my BBQ more than ever for quick and nourishing meals on the go. I wanted to inspire you with my favorite beautiful fresh produce that transform into a trio of easy grilled skewered vegetables that compliment any protein of choice. A delectable grilled trio of Maple Rosemary Garden Carrots, Paprika Honey Dijon Brussel Sprouts and Baba Ganoush Inspired Grilled Eggplant.

These are truly three of my all time favorite side dishes that utilize some of my favorite produce and grill up wonderfully in no time at all for those meals in a hurry. They aren’t your typical go to skewer veggies, I realize that, but I’m all about exploring food and its cooking versatility. So I have tried to grill almost everything… and these turned out to be very impressive I must say :). It’s garden carrot season, I’ve been getting local carrots bunch after bunch as they are so darn yummy, marinated in fresh rosemary from my lovely herb box, good ol’ Canadian Maple Syrup, then caramelized and grilled to perfection… so simple but my goodness you are going to love them grilled! They melt in your mouth with hints of woodsy rosemary and then the sweet maple, mmmm. These Maple Rosemary Grilled Carrots pair so well with a juicy grilled chicken breast! Here is how to make them!

Maple Rosemary Grilled Garden Carrots:

1 bunch of small fresh carrots (approx 10 small carrots)

1.5 tbsp fresh diced rosemary

1 tbsp maple syrup

Light drizzle of your favorite oil (I used olive oil)

1/2 tsp salt

Ground black pepper to taste

Wash carrots well & trim off ends, add carrots to a microwave safe bowl with an inch of water and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 3 minutes or until just softening. Drain water (careful it’s hot!) and add rosemary, maple syrup, salt and pepper and toss well until carrots are coated. Thread carrots onto a skewer and grill on low heat for 5 minutes, then flip, grill another 5 minutes. You’ve got yourself some gorgeous grilled carrots, enjoy! You will have left over marinade, don’t throw it out, I like to drizzle the remainder on my grilled carrots when they are done!

Next up are these mini green cabbage like veggies, brussel sprouts, most people say they despise these cute lil’ things, well that’s because you’ve probably had them over boiled and served bland, yeah? I beg you, give this recipe a crack, you will change your mind about brussel sprouts I swear and then cry during the winter when you can’t grill them up like this, although I do make this same recipe in the oven when I have withdrawals in the winter! These Paprika Honey Dijon Brussel Sprouts are AMAZING! They get a crispy outer layer from the grill and the Paprika Honey Dijon marinade caramelizes beautifully, if I haven’t convinced you with my words yet, just try them already! Here is how.

Mix dijon, Drizzle honey, paprika, salt and pepper to create a marinade. Wash brussel sprouts well & trim off the hard end, add them to a microwave safe bowl with an inch of water and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 2-3 minutes or until just softening. Drain water (careful it’s hot!) and add your marinade to them, add salt and pepper and toss well until sprouts are evenly coated. Thread brussel sprouts onto a skewer and grill on low heat for 5 minutes, then flip, grill another 5 minutes. I love these with a side of grilled chicken or even a poached egg!

Last, but definitely not least, aubergine… eggplant… whatever you want to call the stunning purple bulb is up next! Eggplant is another vegetable I get asked a lot about, how to cook & season it, so here is one of my favorite ways of making them. I get so delighted when I come across Indian Eggplant, the small little individual bulbs that are so perfect for two bite sized sides, just cut them in half and smother in my take on a Baba Ganoush marinade. The garlic tahini marinade with a kick of chile powder, when grilled, makes a crispy and delicious outer crust with a creamy middle. These Baba Ganoush Inspired Grilled Eggplants are going to be a frequent on your dinner menu after you try them.

Baba Ganoush Grilled Eggplant:

6 Indian Eggplants (If you can’t find Indian Eggplant, normal eggplant cut into chunks will do!)

2 tbsp tahini

1 clove garlic – crushed

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp chili powder

Black ground pepper to taste

Mix tahini, crushed garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest and chili powder to create a marinade. Wash eggplant well & trim off top, then cut in half. Thread eggplant onto a skewer, salt & pepper them, then smother them in the tahini marinade. Grill on low heat for 5-6 minutes, then flip, grill another 5 minutes. I love these with a side of grilled fish!

There you have it, a trio of vegetable for you to skewer up and grill up! Give one, or all of these a try during these busy summer months! Let me know your favorite side and what you paired it with, tag me on Instagram @apinchofnurse or Facebook. Enjoy this hot weekend to come everyone and if you’re hitting the Stampede grounds have a blast, fill up on carny eats and I’ll be here for ya when you need a lighter meal to detox :)! XOXO

From July 1, 1867 to July 1st, 2017, a pretty monumental day, as we all know, it is Canada’s 150th Birthday today! We live in an exquisite, diversified, peaceful and stunning country that I cannot even begin to describe how fortunate I feel to be born and raised in. I think Canada’s Big Ol’ Day deserves some recognition and celebration don’t you agree? The only way I want to honor this day is through food, simple, raw, locally grown, sustainable Canadian ingredients and made with love food, because food is what gathers us together in moments of celebration. So, keeping it fresh, simplistic and color coordinated, I bring to you my Canadian inspirited Maple Oat Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait and let’s admire those Canadian views!

Prairie View Hike, Kananaskis, Alberta

I feel like the hype up to this day has been ongoing for a while now with so many perks along the way, I mean who doesn’t love free admission to National Parks, get out there and explore your backyard, literally and exponentially! I initially though I wanted to bring to your plates a grand recipe for Canada Day, something elaborate, fitting for 150 years as a country, our country. But then it hit me, as I was watering my garden this morning some beautifully rich red stalks of rhubarb glistened in the sun, the day prior I picked out a basket of perfectly sweet Canadian grown strawberries and I had a tub of B.C. made Tree Island yogurt (hands down the best cream top yogurt ever!), keep it simple and let our produce shine. A few ingredients that proudly state, grown/made in Canada, turned into a scrumptious Maple Oat Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait, it felt so comfortable and perfect for today, I hope you all feel the love in this recipe and can kick back with my parfait in hand, watch the sun rise or set over mountains or lakes, in your backyard or wherever you may be and throw a Happy Canada Day Eh Cheer!

I see a parfait as a every meal type of deal, they can be a great start to your day, filling and energizing, they can be a mid meal snack in mini version or they can fulfill that sweet craving for dessert! There is something about layers in a clear glass and seeing my spoon scoop up all that goodness that is so satisfying… anyone else think so?! Well, my Maple Oat Strawberry Rhubarb Parfait is really pretty simple to whip up and layer up. One saute pan, a few ingredients and a tall glass with an elegant long spoon, you’re set (I guess the elegant long spoon is optional :)) Look at those white and red layers of yumminess and of course that Canadian maple syrup taste to bring it all together. You can make a double batch of the compote and maple oat crumble and have yourself a couple of days worth of parfait ingredients on hand for a quick meal as well. The compote keeps in the fridge well and even works wonderfully as a jam or top your oats as well, the options are endless. How do I make such a parfait masterpiece myself you ask? Simple as these steps!

You will need the following:

Strawberry Rhubarb Compote:

2 cups chopped Canadian strawberries (I got some B.C. strawberries)

1 1/2 cup fresh diced rhubarb (picked from my garden this morning)

1 tbsp Canadian maple syrup

2 tbsp water

1 tsp fresh lemon juice

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pinch cardamom

Pinch of salt

Maple Oat Crumble:

1/2 cup oats (I use Dan-D Pak Canadian Quick Oats)

4 dates pitted and diced

1/4 cup slivered almonds

1 tbsp Canadian maple syrup

Pinch cinnamon

Pinch salt

1 – 500 gram tub of Tree Island Cream Top Yogurt from grass fed dairy farms in B.C. (I use their plain or honey cream top yogurt, I have found it at Planet Organic, Community Foods and Bridgeland Market in Calgary, it is divine!)

Throw all your compote ingredients into a saute pan over medium heat and let the strawberries and rhubarb soften. It’ll start to smell like fruit and maple heaven in no time and melt together into a delicious compote after approximately 8-10 minutes, pour into a bowl and place in refrigerator while making your maple oat crumble!

In the same saute pan throw together your crumble ingredients except the maple syrup. Allow the oats and almonds to toast up and the dates to soften, after approximately 5 minutes of toasting add your maple syrup and mix well. Saute for another 5 minutes until a nicely toasted crumble comes together.

Time to layer up, my favorite part! Grab a glass or mason jar of your choice and layer some compote on the bottom, then add a layer of yogurt, then add some maple oat crumble, more compote, yogurt and finish off with a thick topping of maple oat crumble and fresh strawberries, stand back and admire your piece of art! Then scoop it up in satisfaction with that long elegant spoon, haha! YUM!

Now I think that this is a recipe to celebrate Canada with, don’t ya think?! Look at those gorgeous layers of red and white! I hope you all get a moment today to celebrate in a way that is meaningful to you, whatever that may be. Happy 150th Birthday to what is simply the best country in the world! Tag me on Facebook or Instagram @apinchofnurse and let me see how your recipe turned out! XOXO

Can you believe we are into another week of June, why do summer months always melt away before our eyes!? I’ve been ridiculously busy as my husband and I made the official leap into adulthood and FINALLY bought our first home… ahhh! With the insanity pursuing and a never ending to do list looming over, healthy and quick dinners are the key to keep me level headed and on top of it all. As you can probably tell with my latest posts on Instagram and Facebook, I have a slight, okay massive, obsession with glorified nutrient packed bowls of wholesomeness. Continuing on with my ode to Canada for it’s upcoming big bash birthday, I am putting the spotlight on our community grown produce and supporting our local vendors! So what’s hearty, nutritious, a super food and most importantly… grows in and tastes better with a touch of Canadian frost? The fabulous kale! You guys have got to try my Blackened Salmon and Crispy Canadian Kale Bowls, it is ready in under 30 minutes, get’s you outside to grill and hits all the check marks on the delicious, balanced and nourishing aspects, and look how pretty it is!

With all the hype surrounding kale lately, I think we are all aware by now that kale is truly an immensely nutrient baring and versatile vegetable, the king of green leafy vegetables I’d say! Kale comes in many assortments, from deep tuscan green, curly leafed, baby, even purple, the list goes on, all unique and delicious in their own ways. I see kale as being the perfect Canadian vegetable as you can grow it from early Spring into late fall, it doesn’t need a lot of attention, in fact, it gets sweeter with a touch of frost, I don’t think we could ask for anything more foolproof in our Albertan gardens, eh? I have to say, my straight up favorite kale is from a local Albertan grower, Gull Valley Greenhouses, located in the Calgary Farmer’s Market. They sell massive bags of green curly leaf kale where the leaves are soft with a subtle sweetness, while still providing that nutty leafy kale profile, mmm. I go through two bags a week of this stuff, at least! I also have kale in my garden and it’s my least demanding vegetable, no fuss!

I’ve had kale prepared in countless ways, in my salads, smoothies, sauteed, baked… I thought it was time to change the tempo and try it on the grill, oh goodness, we’ve all been missing out! I was grilling up some gorgeous salmon with my blackening seasoning and thought, why not blacken my kale as well? I ran into the house, grabbed a giant leaf of kale, tossed it in lime and a touch of oil and massaged it with my blackening seasoning and threw it on the top rack of the grill, closed that lid and hoped for the best! About 10 minutes later I had a crispy, fragrant and stunning leaf of kale that tasted even better than I could have imagined! What else can I blacken I asked myself!? Sweet potatoes! Well, you get the point, I tossed it all in my flavor packed blackening seasoning (that seriously tastes incredible on everything) and threw it all in a bowl, topped off with fresh ribbons of silky zucchini, sweet red tomatoes for some acidity (and the red splash of color for Canada!), as well as avocado (a clear must) and called it dinner!

Blackened and grilling!

This dinner bowl is simple yet hits you with so many enticing and spicy flavor profiles, the salmon has a crispy blackened layer and then melts in your mouth, the kale is crunchy and reminiscent of a large chip! The blackened sweet potatoes are creamy on the inside with golden brown skin and we all need more avocado in our life… so throw that on top, you guys, we have got ourselves, Blacked Salmon and Crispy Kale Canadian Bowls of goodness for din din! Join me in my dinner bowl infatuation, you’ll understand why I can’t stop! Go grab your kale or try growing it yourself this season, you have plenty of time to harvest this magnificent super food. Check out the recipe and let me know what you think, sorry if you run out of bowls… Have a beautiful week everyone! XOXO

We’ve made it half way through our week everyone! With the gorgeous forecasts we’ve been having means some local vegetables are sprouting and ready for us to enjoy! Since we are nearing Canada’s 150th Birthday, I want to dedicate this month’s blogs and recipes to Canada, pay homage to our bountiful country and the gorgeous produce we yield. First up and ready for harvest is the ever so versatile, vibrant and delicious rhubarb stalk. So keeping with the season and celebrating Canada, I made for you some Banana Rhubarb Date Muffins that will have your taste-buds rejoicing with every bite.

Did you know rhubarb is actually a vegetable, it grows reliably (maybe even a little too much) and is a hearty staple in Alberta gardens? You can harvest it starting in the Spring all the way through the summer and early months of fall, yum, rhubarb all summer long! But don’t eat or juice those leaves, they are slightly toxic! I have to be forthright, I really didn’t bother much with rhubarb until recently, I always saw it as a “stuff into pie only” kinda item, until I started to come to the realization that this hearty vegetable is so versatile, so I got innovative in the kitchen! I have created strawberry rhubarb compotes to stuff my buckwheat crepes with, devoured rhubarb infused oats, made a rhubarb dijon vinaigrette, used it as an addition to my smoothies and now I’ll share with ya all my tasty Banana Rhubarb Date Muffin recipe that turned out heavenly, it would be a shame not too share. This recipe is as easy as it gets when it comes to baking… throw all ingredients together, except that rhubarb, mix well, then fold in rhubarb and bake! I am ecstatic to share with you a video tutorial on how easy these are, now on my Facebook account as well! I had a blast making this video, more videos to come in the near future!

These Banana Rhubarb Date Muffins are not your typical sugar and butter packed muffins, they are exceptionally better and guess what, gluten and refined sugar-free! Made with quick oats, some bananas and dates that lend a natural sweetness with the tart and fresh rhubarb that cuts through that with its tang. I love pumpkin in virtually anything… who doesn’t need the extra fiber and it makes these muffins extra moist, so I threw that in as well. With hints of cinnamon, cardamom and topped with oat flakes soaked in vanilla, need I say more? I have this obsession with baking things in mini size, I’m not sure why… they are adorable and the perfect pop in the mouth muffin, I also have the mentality, oh it’s so little, I can have another 🙂 They make for a pretty superb breakfast with fruit and yogurt, a handy on the go snack, healthy for the kids and a quick grab for those pre or post work outs on a busy day.

So thank you Alberta for the perfect rhubarb climate and an abundance of gorgeous red stalks all summer long! You will see them all over grocery stores and markets, go support your local vendor and buy a stalk or two. If you do succumb to these delectable mini Banana Rhubarb Date Muffins, I’d love to hear your feedback, snap a shot of the masterpiece and tag @apinchofnurse on Instagram or Facebook! Thank you everyone for your love and support always, much love xoxo.

Hola on this gorgeous day! You guys, all these recipes keep coming to me after experiencing Mexican cuisine and overwhelming my head (and grocery bill!). I’ve tried and tested quite a few of my recipe creations and this two in one idea of Jicama Mexican slaw turned into shrimp tacos were a home run, I must share with you this deliciousness and bring to your home some Mehicooo influence! A creation fitting for Taco Tuesday I’d say, a fresh Mexican Jicama Mango Slaw with a light Sweet Chili Lime Dressing, which makes for an impeccable base for a darn tasty Shrimp Taco with Jicama Mango Chili Lime Slaw. I love two in one, versatile dishes so darn much, creates two dishes for the week in one preparation, packs well for lunches and a perfect vibrant and light dish for all those upcoming gatherings and BBQ’s!

While in Mexico, every meal, buffet, market, side street served up Jicama (pronounced hee-cama), it is a Mexican root vegetable native to Mexico, a large light brown bulb, after one bite, I couldn’t believe I had been walking past this in the grocery store all my life. Jicama is similar to a turnip of sorts but has a much sweeter flavor, comparable to a mild apple, it has a tough peel which needs to be removed and a gorgeous crisp white flesh. It seriously is such a fresh and tasty snack, usually served simply, sliced into sticks with a dusting of salt, chili powder and a squeeze of lime juice, I had a plate a day! You can find it in almost any grocery store! I love slaws of any variety and had a light bulb moment, Jicama would make a far better slaw base than boring cabbage! Keeping the integrity of the Mexican simplicity in flavors, I brought together Jicama, ripe juicy mango, crisp red pepper, fresh cucumber, sweet carrots and a handful of fragrant cilantro for the slaw, delicious! The fresh Sweet Chili Lime dressing is a simple marinade of lime juice, chili powder, honey, garlic, salt, pepper, avocado oil and diced jalapeno! This Mexican Jicama Mango Slaw is a breeze to make, serve as a side, top with your favorite protein or enjoy my favorite way… shrimp TACO style!

Well, my lovely, spunky spin teacher always reminds me of Taco Tuesdays on Tuesdays and uses it (yells at us) as inspiration to get through a sweaty class… I’ve adapted naturally to this sort of persuasion through food (healthy food!) while dying on the bike. So let’s honor Taco Tuesday and treat ourselves to these well deserved, delicious, Shrimp Tacos with Jicama Mango Chili Lime Slaw. I was chowing down on the slaw one night and then BBQ’ed a skewer of Chili Lime Shrimp and threw it on top, then it dawned on me, why not have fun with my food and create a shrimp taco, lightened up with lettuce as the boat instead of tortilla, how Mexican of me… 🙂 So, I had some gorgeous butter leaf lettuce waiting to be filled with Jicama Mango Slaw, succulent shrimp and topped off with my favorites, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro and red onion. That’s the beauty of tacos, you get to play around with toppings and flavors to create your perfect little taco, mmmm. So simple yet looks like a Mexican fiesta on a plate! All in one preparation, make the slaw as well as extra Sweet Chili Lime Dressing to marinade your shrimp in, dinner under 30 minutes is served!

I hope I’ve inspired you and diversified your kitchen recipes on this Taco Tuesday! Thank you for everyone’s ongoing, incredible support of my creations and the feedback I receive everyday is invaluable. SO, why not make some shrimp tacos for you and the fam tonight! Also, a FYI, my husbands believes that food from the sea is not for him, I made these tacos for him the exact same way but added steak strips with the same Sweet Chili Lime marinade, he said it “was better than Mexico”! Go get your taco on! XOXO

Happy Monday everyone, a beautiful start to a new week and almost into June, unreal! I have been working hard on Travel Time, my travel blog section and have for you my adventures while exploring Isla Mujeres, Mexico, while on a recent trip to Cancun. The island was a truly unique and stunning experience that I suggest everyone get a taste of if you are heading that way! From thrilling modes of transportation, turtles, quaint town centers, shopping galore, endless delicious guacamole and secluded beaches… this island is not to be missed! Check out my post here on the ins and outs of this authentic and magical island, the island of goddesses!

Long weekends rock, especially May Long here in Canada, camping commences, spring is in full bloom, and grills are a blazin’! Let’s get grilling my Mexican Style Chimichurri Grilled Shrimp this long weekend, it’s undeniably mouth-watering and freshly inspired by my recent jaunt in cuisine cultivated Mexico! I was exhilarated by Mexico’s vibrant food scene and distinct flavors, the unique market’s, fresh and wholesome produce, beautiful seafood, indigenous spices and ingredients. These items ignited a need to create a sauce that embodied their flavor culture through my eyes!

Everyday, even if it was dining at the resort’s buffet or meandering the streets and restaurants of Mexico and its island’s, I was exposed to their vastness of gorgeous produce as well as perfectly balanced and layered bold spice profiles. It quickly became apparent that seafood is abundant and fresh on the coasts, staples such as corn, beans, rice, avocados, tomatoes, squash and melt in your mouth tropical fruit was plentiful! The variety and multitude of preparation in chilies were inventive and the countless palatable spices had my taste buds dancing with every bite. For me the combination of fresh herbs and avocado over seafood was a combination I couldn’t get enough of, I had to create a sauce that embodied it all!

The concept of a Chimichurri sauce with a Mexican make over was exactly how I wanted to showcase the vibrant and earthy Mexican food culture in a dish. I mean who doesn’t love sauces! Chimichurri is traditionally an Argentinian sauce that pairs well with meats, I decided to amp it up with some Mexican flair. This Mexican Style Chimichurri sauce is packed with fresh herbs, tangy acids, creamy avocados, spicy jalapeno, it truly compliments pretty much everything you smother it on… trust me, I explored it on many ingredients! From fresh seafood, to vegetables, chicken and steak, this sauce offers a real punch to anything you try it on. I have a major love affair with succulent, sweet shrimp (ask those that watched me mow down on shrimp in Mexico :)) and thought this bold and spicy sauce would pair beautifully well with shrimp, yep, sure did!

You guys, I have literally been basting all my meals in this Mexican Style Chimichurri, the outstanding part of this recipe is it takes no time at all to whip up, it keeps so well in an air tight container and flavors are even more elevated after a few days! It has been keeping my Mexican flavors and cuisine withdrawal symptoms under control I’d say, not to mention makes for a damn tasty and quick meal every time. I simply marinade anything I’m craving (of recent, Mexican Chimichurri eggplant and shrimp was my choice for dinner) in this mucho Mexican Chimichurri and the grill also enhances those flavors, lending a smokey hue!

I hope I delivered a little bit of Mexico to your May long weekend grilling plans, the perfect sauce to pack in that camping cooler! Happy May Long everyone, stay safe and pop those delicious Mexican Style Chimichurri Grilled Shrimp in your mouth! Let me know what you think of the recipe and showcase your creations by tagging your photos on Instagram @apinchofnurse. Watch for a soon to come travel blog post on my recommendations and ventures through Isla Mujeres, Mexico!

Afternoon everyone! Hope your weekend has been jam-packed with adventure and hopefully delicious meals that were grilled up on that BBQ, since the sun came out to play yesterday. A slightly gloomy start to our Sunday, but who are we kidding , Canadians are notorious for using that BBQ as soon as a walk able path via snow boots can be shoveled through the snow to reach the BBQ… well I do anyways. Although, I find it preferable when you can entertain in the sanctuary of your backyard, kick back, have a drinkaroo or two, all while grilling up damn delicious Jalapeno Corn Chicken Burgers!

I find from time to time chicken can get slightly boring and recipes are monotonous, throw that flavorless chicken to the side and welcome into your life these super easy, moist, flavor packed and ready for summer, Jalapeno Corn Chicken Burgers! I was craving a juicy bite of a healthy burger, I created these sweet with heat chicken patties and it undeniably hit the spot! Within 10 minutes you can have your ground chicken mixed up with a medley of fresh jalapeno and lime, juicy sweet corn, fragrant cilantro and that perfect spice blend of chili powder , cumin, paprika and chipotle. These burgers deliver a serious flavor bomb, no boring ass chicken here!

I made a batch and had them for dinner, lunch than dinner… I was seriously impressed with their versatility and deliciousness even after being re-heated! I am optimistic that I have inspired you and created half your weeks dinner and lunch ideas, you’re welcome! I experimented with a fully loaded lettuce style burger, stacked with creamy avocado, grilled red onion, fresh tomato with a side of delectable Chili Lime Beets, I dove right in, crazy tasty! Then for lunch I whipped up a quick avocado, tomato, cucumber salad with a Jalapeno Corn Chicken Burger on the side or try the traditional patty between a bun with your fav toppings. You really can’t go wrong and yes, the recipe is also up for the Chili Lime Beet Chips!

I’m obsessed with beets and my BBQ, so I thought… let’s unify these two glorious things! BAM, Chili Lime Beet Chips with a smoky hue and a lovely crisp, a perfect compliment to that Jalapeno Corn Chicken Burger, served as a lettuce slider with a side of chips, not to mention a much healthier alternative than fries or regular fried chips. They did not last long, seriously obsessed and addicted! Just a FYI, the Calgary Farmer’s Market has gorgeous bags of golden and red beets right now, you may want to pick some of these beauties up.

Have I got you wanting to fire up that BBQ now? Get on it and indulge on my healthy and delicious chicken burger and beet chips tonight! Hope you all have a lovely rest of your Sunday and week ahead and let’s coax that sunshine out! XOXO

How is everyone’s Easter Monday coming along? Well, it’s game day here in Calgary as most of you know, our Calgary Flames hockey team are bringing the third playoff game home to the Saddledome! In support of our boys and an urgent needed win, I have surely created a good luck, red flamin’, Roasted Tomato Vegetable Soup!

Who doesn’t love a creamy, bright, flavorful tomato soup, especially one that sports our hockey teams colors, hah!? Some tomato soups can be bland and watery, it’s those that give tomato soup a bad reputation I’d say, let’s turn that around with my tomato soup! My Roasted Tomato Vegetable Soup is so fitting for Spring, packed with fresh and flavorful vegetables, heightened by roasting them and adding fresh savory spices. I have enjoyed it for lunch for three days now and it makes an effortless lazy dinner option, served with perhaps your favorite grilled cheese sandwich? I mean tomato soups are meant for dunking while watching the Flames win!

This recipe is pretty foolproof, chop chop, throw on a pan, roast, simmer and blend, if only it was actually created in seconds… but truly, let your oven do the work here then you just need to bring it all together in harmony. Don’t forget that roasted garlic, yummmm. Roasted garlic is seriously outstanding and brings a caramelized garlic flavor to the soup, check out the recipe on how to make a head of roasted garlic! I baked some fresh chia and buckwheat bread, smothered with fresh avocado, then drenched in my Roasted Tomato Vegetable Soup, OMG, that’s all I have to say! I made my husband a cheddar and green apple grilled cheese sandwich with his tomato soup, if that’s more your food language!